DePrince, Anne P.
Allard, Carolyn B. (Carolyn Brigitte), 1968-
Oh, Hannah
Freyd, Jennifer J.
2007-07-02T20:08:52Z
2007-07-02T20:08:52Z
2004-11
DePrince, A.P., Allard, C.B., Oh, H., & Freyd, J.J.. (2004) Misleading implications from the use of the label "false memory." Poster presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, LA, November 14-18, 2004.
http://hdl.handle.net/1794/4331
This information will be reported in DePrince, A.P., Allard, C., Oh, H., & Freyd, J.J. (in press). What’s in a
name for memory errors? Implications and ethical issues arising from the use of the label “false
memory” for errors in memory for details. Ethics & Behavior.
Since 1995, psychologists have increasingly used the term "false memory" to describe memory errors for details (e.g., errors for words learned in a list); such errors in details were once referred to by other terms, such as "intrusions". "False memories" is also used to refer to suggestibility experiments in which whole events are apparently confabulated and in media accounts of contested memories of childhood abuse. We examined use of the term "false memory/ies" to describe 1.) suggestibility for, or confabulation of, entire events or 2.) errors in details. Using the keyword "false memory/ies", journal articles published between 1992 and August 2003 were identified. Editorials, commentaries, responses to other articles, and book reviews were excluded. Of the 397 articles collected, 222 (55.9%) were empirical reports. Approximately 70% of empirical articles used the term "false memory/ies" to refer to error in details. The shift in language away from prior terms such as "memory intrusions" to a new use of the term "false memory" presents serious ethical challenges to the data-interpretation process by encouraging over-generalization and misapplication of research findings on word memory to social issues. The research and ethical implications of the new use of the term will be discussed.
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Lack of precision, misleading implications, and ethical issues arising from the use of the label "false memory" for errors in word memory
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Freyd, Jennifer J.
Klest, Bridget K. (Bridget Kristen)
Allard, Carolyn B. (Carolyn Brigitte), 1968-
2007-07-02T20:19:28Z
2007-07-02T20:19:28Z
2004-08
Freyd, J.J., Klest, B., & Allard, C.B. Physical Health, Psychological Distress, and Betrayal Trauma. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, 28 July - 1 August, 2004.
http://hdl.handle.net/1794/4333
Numerous studies have revealed an association between trauma and adverse physical and mental health status. While the relation is well established, the mechanisms underlying this link are less well understood. In the current study we sought to distinguish impact on health arising from types of trauma as indicated by betrayal trauma theory (Freyd 1996, 2001), with an eye toward eventually uncovering mechanisms and developing interventions. Betrayal trauma theory distinguishes two dimensions as primary for events that cause long lasting harm to people: life-threat (e.g. major car accident; urban violence) and social betrayal (e.g. abuse by a close other). We recruited 99 community adults who reported at least 12 months of chronic medical or pain problems for a longitudinal intervention study. Participants were assessed for trauma history and physical and mental symptoms. Trauma assessment included measuring exposure to both traumas high in betrayal and traumas low in betrayal (but high in life-threat). Associations between overall trauma exposure and negative health and mental status were found. High betrayal was particularly potent. For instance, exposure to traumas with high betrayal is significantly correlated with number of physical illness symptoms (r=.37), anxiety symptoms (r = .49), and depression symptoms (r=.45). Multiple regression analyses predicting these symptoms from betrayal trauma exposure reveal that adding exposure to trauma with less betrayal into the model changes R-square statistics very little, and these changes are not significant. This pattern of results has been replicated with data recently collected in our laboratory using a different population. In addition, interesting gender effects are emerging. With the large amount of variance in symptoms predicted by exposure to high betrayal trauma, we are focusing on uncovering mechanisms and evaluating the health consequences of an intervention that involves writing about reactions to these events.
This research was supported by the Northwest Health Foundation Grant
Number 2001-255 Child Abuse and Health: An Intervention (Freyd, PI).
The manuscript preparation was also supported in part by the Trauma and Oppression Research Fund at the University of Oregon Foundation.
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Physical Health, Psychological Distress, and Betrayal Trauma
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Binder, Angela
Cromer, Lisa D.
Freyd, Jennifer J.
2007-07-02T19:52:35Z
2007-07-02T19:52:35Z
2004-11
Binder, A., Cromer, L.D., & Freyd, J.J. (2004) What's the harm in asking? Participant reaction to trauma history questions compared with other personal questions. Poster presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, LA, November 14-18, 2004.
http://hdl.handle.net/1794/4329
Previous empirical research has linked the disclosure of traumatic experiences through writing with increased positive cognitive processing and physiological well-being (Park & Blumberg, 2002). The benefits of disclosure seem to outweigh the costs in many cases. Other research suggests that not asking about trauma experiences may actually have negative consequences by perpetuating societal stigmas that serve to avoid discussion about trauma (Becker-Blease & Freyd, 2002). In the present study (N=275) the researchers compared participant's emotional reactions to trauma questions with their reactions to other possibly invasive questions through a self-report survey. Participants were also asked about how important they felt each question was to future research. This research addresses the cost/benefit of asking about trauma compared to other possibly invasive questions commonly examined in research by simply asking participants about their experiences.
Supported by the McNair Scholars Program at the University of
Oregon (Special thanks to Gail Unruh, and Kim Lilley) and in part by the Trauma and
Oppression Research Fund at the University of Oregon Foundation.
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What’s the Harm in Asking? Participant Reaction to Trauma History Questions Compared with Other Personal Questions
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Allard, Carolyn B. (Carolyn Brigitte), 1968-
Freyd, Jennifer J.
2007-07-02T19:52:23Z
2007-07-02T19:52:23Z
2004-11
Allard, C.B., & Freyd, J.J. (2004) Writing about Betrayal Trauma: Examining Gender and Narrative Structure. Poster presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, LA, November 14-18, 2004.
http://hdl.handle.net/1794/4328
In Pennebaker's writing paradigm, participants are instructed either to write about emotional events or neutral topics. Those assigned to the emotional writing condition typically display physical and psychological health improvements (Pennebaker, 1997; Smyth, 1998). Up until now, the writing paradigm has for the most part been applied to events which have been described as emotional but not specifically traumatic. Betrayal trauma is perpetrated by someone who is close to the victim and has been associated with various negative consequences. Sixty-five university undergraduates (51 female, 14 male) were randomly assigned to write either about a distressing interpersonal event they experienced during childhood or how they spent their time during the previous day. Over 50% of all participants reported having experienced at least one betrayal trauma, women reported more betrayal trauma than men, and betrayal trauma and health measures were found to be negatively related. While a main effect of writing on symptomatology reduction was not found, a significant gender by writing condition interaction emerged, which revealed that, in general, women in the trauma writing condition benefited more than men. Examination of the essays points to the importance of narrative structure in predicting outcome.
This study was made possible by funding from the
University of Oregon Foundation Fund for Research on Trauma and Oppression
(PI, J. Freyd), and the University of Oregon Graduate Education Committee.
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Writing About Betrayal Trauma: Examining Gender and Narrative Structure
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